Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has proposed a new method for the importation of products subject to health surveillance, such as medical equipment, medicines and cosmetics, that promises to optimize clearance procedures and reduce deadlines for sanitary permits.

ANVISA has submitted an official reform proposal in which products already regularized by ANVISA as non-risk shall receive immediate green channel, being relieved from document analysis and cargo inspection. Products categorized as higher risk will continue to be framed in the red channel, that requires document analysis, cargo inspection and further procedures.

The new proposal brings nine criteria to manage sanitary risk for imports, that include company’s track record, evidence of health problems linked to the product, result of laboratory analysis, among others. A similar channel system is already used by Brazilian Customs.

This proposal integrates a broader initiative from President Michel Temer administration to make Brazil’s foreign trade more competitive worldwide, by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and integrating technical procedures.

Source: National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA)